Support for clothes and the like

ABSTRACT

A support of the &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;clothesline&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; type comprises a resilient split tube or channel constituting the body portion of the support and adapted to receive clampingly with the flexible article to be supported a continuous or interrupted clamping bar or lug. Such bar or lug may be integrally hinged to the body portion or may be slidable therealong or may be carried by an independent line extending parallel to the body portion.

United States Patent 1191 Adams, IV 1 May 15, 1973 [54] SUPPORT FOR CLOTHES AND THE 3,266,711 8/1966 Song ..24 243 N x L E 3,302,260 2/1967 Cuddeback ..24 201 c X 3,416,585 12/1968 Staller ..24/201 C x Inventor: J Q Adams, 1206 Foxcroft 3,421,276 1/1969 La Barge..... ..24/201cux Road, Richmond, 23229 3,512,228 5/1970 Carvell ..24/243M 1 Filed: p 22, 1971 FOREIGN PATENTS 0R APPLICATIONS [21] PP 132,535 969,236 9/1964 Great Britain ..24 201 c 52 us. C1 ..211/119.13, 24/81 R, 24/245 Primary ExaminerfRamon Brim 51 1m. (:1. ..D06f 3/14 2 AII0mey-B- Flshbumwrm- [58] Field of Search ..2ll/119.13, 119.14,

211/119.12,119.1,119.01,119.02,119.03; [571 ABSTRACT 24/243 201 81 243 243 A support of the clothesline type comprises a 246 resilient split tube or channel constituting the body portion of the support and adapted to receive [56] References Cited clampingly with the flexible article to be supported a continuous or interrupted clamping bar or lug. Such UNITED STATES PATENTS bar or lug may be integrally hinged to the body por- 582,927 5/1897 Johnson ..211/119.13 n r m y be lidable therealong or may be carried 3,141,221 7/1964 Faulls ..24/201 C X by an independent line extending parallel to the body 3,190,455 6/1965 Hartshorn et aL. ...211/1 19.03 ortion, 3,217,690 11/1965 Mihalisin ..24/201 C X 4 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures HGI PATENTEDHAY] 5I973 INVENTOR JOHN 0. ADAMS III ATTORNEY SUPPORT FOR CLOTHES AND THE LIKE The objective of the invention is to provide an improved support for clothes and other fabric articles during drying, commonly known as a clothesline. By means of the present invention the body portion of the clothesline is a reinforced extruded or molded resilient plastic body in the nature of a split tube or channel. In one preferred form of the device, a clamping rod, bar or lug is integrally hinged to the body portion adjacent the entrance slot of the latter. The clamping rod has a diameter larger than the width of the slot and only slightly smaller than the bore of the body portion, whereby the article of clothing, towel or the like may be forced through the slot and into the bore of the body portion and clamped securely therein due to the inherent springiness of the body portion.

The support so constructed is extremely sturdy and durable and therefore long-lasting, economical to manufacture in any desired length, easy to use, and most importantly dispenses with the necessity for clothespins which have a tendency to be out of reach when needed and which are easy to drop and misplace. The support embodying the invention is constructed to shed rain water and the clamped portion of the clothing article protected in a clean state with no possibility of rust stains or the like.

In accordance with certain modifications of the invention, the movable clamping element may be of a segmental or interrupted type along the continuous body portion or may be slidable on the body portion or on a separate parallel supporting line.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING FIGURES FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of a clothesline support embodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged transverse vertical section taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a similar section taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side elevation of a modified form of clothesline support.

FIG. 5 is a transverse vertical section through the modified support in an open or non-clamping position.

FIG. 6 is a similar section showing the modified support in an active clamping position.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary side elevation showing a further modification of the invention.

FIG. 8 is atransverse vertical section through the structure in FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary side elevation showing another modified form of the invention.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged transverse vertical section taken on line 10--l0 of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a similar sectional view showing the support of FIG. 9 in an active or closed position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the drawings in detail wherein like numerals designate like parts throughout, and referring initially to FIGS. 1-3, a clothesline body portion of any necessary length is constructed in the form of a preferably cylindrical split tube or channel having an entrance slot 21 and a continuous bore 22, as shown.

The body portion 20 is formed of a tough resilient plastic or rubber-like substance which is stain resis tant and noncorrosive and easy to clean he merely wiping with a damp cloth or soap and water. The wall thickness of the body portion 20 is sufficiently great to impart thereto a desirable degree of springiness and stiffness. Preferably, although not necessarily, a number of reinforcing strands 23 may be embedded in the upper side of the body portion 20 during manufacture.

The support further comprises a continuous preferably cylindrical clamping rod, bar or body 24 formed of the same material as the body portion 20 and preferably being of solid form and relatively stiff, although sufficiently resilient to be bendable with the fingers during the use of the device. The rod 24 is somewhat larger in diameter than the entrance slot 21 but is insertable therethrough due to the yielding nature of the body portion 20. The bore 22 is slightly larger than the diameter of the rod 24 although the two diameters may, if desired, be approximately equal. The rod 24 is integrally connected to the body portion 20 by a preferably continuous thin flexible hinge web 25 which joins the rod to the body portion 20 along one side of the entrance slot 21.

During use, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the fabric article 26 to be supported has its end portion introduced through the slot 21 into the bore 22, and a section of the bendable rod 24 is forced through the slot 21 and will snap inside of the bore 22 to clamp the end portion of the article 26 firmly inside of the body portion, as shown in FIG. 3. Additional cloth articles are similarly supported anywhere along the length of the line by simply forcing additional sections of the rod 24 through the slot 21 and into the bore of the body portion. Removal of the articles 26, after drying, is equally simple by simply spreading the sides of the body portion 20 and stripping the rod 24 from the same. The device is highly convenient to use and protects clothes from soiling or rust stains and also eliminates entirely the use of troublesome clothespins.

In FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, there is shown a modification of the invention wherein substantially the identical resilient slit tubular body portion 20, previously described, is employed. The coacting clamping element, however, instead of being in the form of a continuous rod 24 consists of spaced individual short clamping lugs 27 at uniformly spaced intervals along the body portion 20. Each lug 27 is preferably cylindrical and has smoothly rounded ends, as shown. Each lug is integrally joined to the body portion by a thin flexible hinge web 28 rather than a continuous hinge web, as previously described. Each clamping lug 27 may be equipped with a handle extension 29 if preferred for added convenience.

The general mode of use is the same as described in connection with the previous embodiment. The individual elements 27, as required, are thrust through the slot 21 and into the bore 22 of the split tubular body portion so as to exert a clamping or holding force at a local point on a cloth article 30 being supported. Two or three of the elements 27 may be brought into use for supporting a large bed sheet, blanket or the like. The individual or interrupted clamping lugs 27 may be somewhat easier to manipulate than the continuous rod 24 of the prior embodiment.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show a further modification of the invention utilizing the same body portion 20 previously described in combination with interrupted cylindrical 3 clamping lugs 31 joined by integral hinge webs 32 to a generally C-shaped supports 33. The individual supports 33 may be cemented at fixed intervals along the body portion 20 or may be freely slidable on the body portion, if preferred. The lugs 31 are similar in their action to the lugs 27, previously described.

FIGS. 9-11 show another embodiment of the invention wherein the same resilient body portion 20 is utilized with a parallel closely spaced coextensive line 34 having individual clamping lugs 35 similar to the lugs 27 slidably mounted thereon, and therefore adjustable to any points along the two elements 20 and 34. The lugs 35 may be equipped with handles 36, if desired.

The mode of use of the device in FIGS. 9-11 is essentially the same as in the other embodiments. A local portion of a cloth article is applied to one of the elements 35 and the latter is pushed through the entrance slot 21 and into the bore of the body portion 20.

It is to be understood that the forms of the invention herewith shown and described are to be taken as preferred examples of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of the invention or scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim:

1. A clothesline support comprising a semi-flexible resilient elongated body portion in the form of a split tube having a continuous longitudinal entrance slot leading into the bore of the tube, a coacting clamping means of a larger width than said entrance slot and adapted to be forced through the entrance slot and into said bore and adapted to clamp a portion of a cloth article therein, said clamping means comprising plural spaced clamping lugs each individually insertable through said entrance slot and into said bore, a carrier for each lug on the body portion, and a flexible hinge web interconnecting each lug and carrier, each carrier slidable longitudinally along the body portion to any desired locality therealong.

2. The structure of claim 1, and each carrier comprising a generally C-shaped member applied externally over the split tubular body portion.

3. A clothesline support comprising a semi-flexible resilient elongated body portion in the form of a split tube having a continuous longitudinal entrance slot leading into the bore of the tube, a coacting clamping means of a larger width than said entrance slot and adapted to be forced through the entrance slot and into said bore and adapted to clamp a portion of a cloth article therein, said coacting clamping means comprising a line extending in parallel spaced relation to said body portion and adjacent said entrance slot, and plural separately formed individual clamping lugs slidably mounted on said line and each being independently insertable through the entrance slot into the interior of the body portion at any chosen point therealong,

4. The structure of claim 3, and each of said individual clamping lugs having a handle element thereon. 

1. A clothesline support comprising a semi-flexible resilient elongated body portion in the form of a split tube having a continuous longitudinal entrance slot leading into the bore of the tube, a coacting clamping means of a larger width than said entrance slot and adapted to be forced through the entrance slot and into said bore and adapted to clamp a portion of a cloth article therein, said clamping means comprising plural spaced clamping lugs each individually insertable through said entrance slot and into said bore, a carrier for each lug on the body portion, and a flexible hinge web interconnecting each lug and carrier, each carrier slidable longitudinally along the body portion to any desired locality therealong.
 2. The structure of claim 1, and each carrier comprising a generally C-shaped member applied externally over the split tubular body portion.
 3. A clothesline support comprising a semi-flexible resilient elongated body portion in the form of a split tube having a continuous longitudinal entrance slot leading into the bore of the tube, a coacting clamping means of a larger width than said entrance slot and adapted to be forced through the entrance slot and into said bore and adapted to clamp a portion of a cloth article therein, said coacting clamping means comprising a line extending in parallel spaced relation to said body portion and adjacent said entrance slot, and plural separately formed individual clamping lugs slidably mounted on said line and each being independently insertable through the entrance slot into the interior of the body portion at any chosen point therealong.
 4. The structure of claim 3, and each of said individual clamping lugs having a handle element thereon. 